Secondhand Smoke Facts
Everyone knows that smoking is harmful, but what many people don't realize is that secondhand smoke can also be extremely hazardous to the health of non-smokers.Key findings about secondhand smoke and its harmful effects:
• Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds -- more than 50 of which known to cause cancer in humans or animals.
• There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Over 38,000 deaths annually in the U.S. are the result of secondhand smoke-related diseases.
• Many people suffer chronic and debilitating conditions caused by secondhand smoke-related diseases. These include emphysema, cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis, and asthma.
• Secondhand smoke causes lung and other cancers, and heart disease.
• Secondhand smoke causes or worsens respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, especially in infants, children and older persons.
• Secondhand smoke increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and middle ear infections in children.
• Secondhand smoke is a major health threat to persons with asthma -- sometimes fatal.
• Secondhand smoke causes 30 times as many lung cancer deaths as all regulated air pollutants combined.
- Secondhand smoke cannot be controlled by ventilation or air cleaning. The only solution to this problem is to make buildings smoke-free.
A number of public opinion surveys have found that a significant majority of tenants support smoke-free apartment policies.
- Secondhand smoke is hazardous to the health of not only your human companions, but your pets as well. Click here to learn more.